View clinical trials related to Inflammation.
Filter by:Sepsis represents a serious public health issue characterized by a complex inflammatory response. In addition to their hemostatic role, platelets display inflammatory functions by secreting a variety of immunomodulatory factors and interacting with circulating immune cells. The investigators postulate that, in severe sepsis, platelets become activated and release amounts of different soluble inflammatory molecules that contribute to sepsis-associated inflammation. First, the investigators propose to assess whether severe sepsis impairs the ability of platelets to release soluble CD40L (sCD40L), an powerful platelet-derived immunomodulatory molecule, in ICU patients with S. aureus documented infection, ICU patients with documented infection involving other bacterial species, compared to ICU patients with inflammation of noninfectious origin and healthy blood donors. Then, the investigators wish to assess whether the bacterial species affects the release of platelet sCD40L and by an extensive screening of platelet soluble factors, the investigators propose to set up profiles of inflammatory molecules associated with the type of infection. Finally, the investigators will analyze platelets' activation state and their association with circulating immune, according to the type of infection. Therefore, this project is expected to assess to which extent the platelet inflammatory function is super-activated in severe sepsis and to identify new platelet-related biomarkers of sepsis.
The protocol is to draw peripheral blood from healthy volunteers for in vitro studies. The aims of these in vitro studies are to determine the cellular and intracellular mechanisms by which hypertonic saline and ATP release regulate neutrophil and lymphocyte functions.
Rationale: The immune system in the ageing population becomes compromised with age (termed "Immunosenescence"). Therefore, elderly people have a decreased ability to respond to infection and vaccination. Furthermore, many of the health issues associated with ageing are linked to inflammation ("Inflammaging"). It has been suggested that this compromised immune function is in part due to reduced Toll-like receptor (TLR) function, which is part of the innate immune system. Milk and dairy based products have been shown to have beneficial effects on inflammation and immunity. This effect may be mediated via support of the innate immune response and promotes TLR7 signaling in in vitro assays (unpublished observation). Also prebiotics have been suggested to influence markers of innate immune function. Furthermore, TLR function has been suggested to be correlated to vitamin D status. Therefore, in the current pilot study, the potential of milk protein, prebiotics and vitamin D to support innate immune function in elderly will be investigated. Objective: Aim of the current study is to evaluate the effect of milk protein on the innate immune response in elderly in a pilot study. Furthermore, support of this effect by prebiotics and Vitamin D will be studied. Study design: The study will be a double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study. Study population: Healthy female elderly subjects of 65-85 years of age. Intervention: Period 1: Milk protein or placebo. Period 2: Milk protein + prebiotics or placebo. Period 3: Milk protein + prebiotics + Vitamin D or placebo.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory potential of an adequate intake of alpha-linolenic acid in elderly.
The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate allergen-induced nasal airway inflammation following nasal application of Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), or house dust mite, extract in e-cigarette users, cigarette smokers, and non-smokers.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether low estrogen levels in young women with hypothalamic amenorrhea (premenopausal HypoE) is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. For this study, the investigators will measuring vascular function and immune markers on: - young women with hypothalamic amenorrhea (>3 months of no menstrual cycle due to low estrogen) - young women with regular menstrual cycles not on hormone therapy. - recently menopausal women (<3 years from final menstrual period) not on hormone therapy. Premenopausal HypoE participants will then be randomized to use either an estrogen patch or a placebo patch (no active medicine) for 3 months, followed by estrogen or placebo patch plus progesterone or placebo pills for 2 additional weeks. The investigators are looking to see if estrogen improves vascular and immune function.
This study is designed to comprehensively investigate the anti-inflammatory role of vitamin D in reproductive aged women, and its association with preeclampsia and depression. Findings will have substantial impact providing new information implicated in the development of preeclampsia (a condition that may include hypertension, tissue swelling caused by excessive fluid, and kidney stress) and postpartum depression (after birth). Additionally, the study is designed to understand how early mental health screening and evaluation can help pregnant women reduce their risk of developing postpartum depression. Testing the acceptability and effectiveness of this mental health screening, education and referral program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will provide valuable patient centered qualitative and quantitative data that can be used in future services planning. The study will enroll up to 200 pregnant women (in third trimester of pregnancy) in total.
This Strategic Research Project is a translational proof-of-concept study that will determine whether vitamin D3 has potential to prevent recurrent tuberculosis (TB), as indicated by enhanced resolution of pulmonary inflammation detected using 18F-FDG PET-CT scanning. The extent of pulmonary inflammation detectable on PET-CT scanning is a validated biomarker that has previously been shown to predict risk of TB recurrence in patients taking anti-TB treatment. The investigators propose to explore whether vitamin D3 can enhance resolution of PET-CT-detectable pulmonary inflammation, on the basis of extensive preliminary data from in vitro studies and a Phase 2b clinical trial that the investigators have conducted, showing that high-dose vitamin D3 accelerates resolution of peripheral blood inflammatory responses in patients with pulmonary TB. Forty vitamin D-deficient patients who have completed 6 months' TB treatment, but who still have residual pulmonary inflammation detectable on PET-CT scanning, will be allocated to receive either an 8-week course of high-dose oral vitamin D3 supplementation or placebo during the study period. The extent of pulmonary inflammation on PET-CT scanning will be compared between intervention vs. control groups at 8-week follow-up. If the study shows a positive result, it will generate valuable proof-of-concept data that could be used to support an application to conduct a large phase 3 trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent TB recurrence.
The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of infliximab on measures related to depression symptoms. Infliximab is also known by its brand name Remicade. Infliximab, or Remicade, is given to by an intravenous (IV) needle and is currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Infliximab is thought to help these conditions because it reduces inflammation in the body. Infliximab (Remicade) reduces inflammation by blocking a chemical in the body called tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. This chemical produces inflammation. Inflammatory chemicals in the body like TNF-alpha appear to be increased in some people with major depression. Researchers believe that a drug like infliximab, which blocks TNF-alpha, may be helpful in treating depression. This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which participants will be randomized to receive one infusion of infliximab or placebo. The study will assess neuroimaging measures of corticostriatal circuitry before and after a placebo-controlled pharmacologic blockade of inflammation in 80 depressed patients.
This study will measure the effect of ingesting a flavonoid-rich supplement on various biomarkers in overweight/obese women during a 12-week period. The flavonoid-rich supplement contains a mixture of flavonoids including quercetin, catechins from green tea extract, and anthocyanins from bilberry extract, and other food components that facilitate flavonoid bioactivity including fish oil, caffeine, and vitamin C.